Method and apparatus for impressing identifying characters into metal bar stock

In combination with a bolt cutting machine, apparatus for impressing identifying characters on the end face of advancing bolt blank bar stock as the bar stock is supplied to a cutting machine, comprising:

• a housing fixed to the cutting machine,
• a die with selected identification characters thereon,
• a die positioning member carrying said die and
• having pivotal movement into and out of said housing, said die positioning member movable out of said housing to position said die in the axial path of the advancing bar stock and movable into said housing to remove said die from the axial path of the bar stock, said die positioning member having a cam surface formed thereon,
• a reciprocating drive means mounted adjacent said housing for operating a drive shaft,
• a cam member attached to said drive shaft and engaging said cam surface of said die positioning member for pivoting said member into and out of said housing and locking said member with said die disposed in the path of travel of the advancing bar stock to allow the end face of said advancing bar stock to engage said locked die, said pressure exerted by the bar stock being sufficient to impress said die characters into the end face, and actuator means being connected to said reciprocating drive means and operating responsive to electrical signals to impart controlling actuation to said reciprocating drive means,
• switch means connected to the cutting machine for generating an electrical signal just prior to the time the cutting machine cuts the bar stock into a bolt blank, said actuator means receiving said electrical signal and causing movement of said cam member by said reciprocating drive means to unlock said die positioning member and allow the die sufficient movement to relieve said pressure between the end face of the bar stock and said die after impression of the identifying characters on the end face but just prior to the bar stock being cut into a bolt blank by said cutting machine, and said reciprocating drive means further cooperating with said engaging and locking means and said die positioning member to retract said member into said housing for repositioning said die out of the axial path of the bar stock to allow the cut bolt blank to fall free for collection.

In a machine for cutting bar stock into bolt blanks, the improvement comprising apparatus for impressing identifying characters on the end face of advancing bolt blank bar stock as the bar stock is supplied to a cutting machine, said apparatus comprising:

• a die support structure being connected to said machine;
• a die with selected identification characters thereon;
• a die positioning member being pivotally connected to said die support structure, said die positioning member carrying said die and adapted for pivotal movement to position said die in the axial path of the advancing bar stock and to remove said die from the axial path of the bar stock, said die positioning member having cam surface means formed thereon;
• a reciprocating drive means being connected to said die support structure and having a drive shaft attached thereto;
• a cam member attached to said drive shaft and engaging said cam surface means of said die positioning member for positioning and locking said member and said die into the axial path of the advancing bar stock upon the downstroke of said reciprocating drive means and unlocking said retracting said member to position said die out of the axial path of the bar stock upon the upstroke of said reciprocating drive means;
• signal means connected to the cutting machine for generating a signal just prior to the time the cutting machine cuts the bar stock into a bolt blank and for transmitting said signal to said reciprocating drive means;
• and
• said reciprocating drive means receiving said signal and in response thereto unlocking said die and repositioning said die out of the axial path of the bar stock to relieve said pressure between the end face of the bar stock and said die after impression of the identifying characters on the end face but just prior to the bar stock being cut into a bolt blank by the cutting machine.